The Kościelisko commune appealed to residents who illegally rented rooms to register their activities because they will not face any consequences. Many entrepreneurs have emerged from the gray zone. Only one apartment building has 134 hotel rooms
Almost 600 legal accommodation places were added in the Kościelisko commune thanks to the abolition for accommodation providers announced by the local authorities. Renters of guest rooms in the so-called gray zone companies could register their business without consequences until October 31.
134 “new” beds in one apartment building
– The abolition campaign for illegal accommodation providers was a great success. In recent days, designated for reporting illegal accommodation, we have added almost 600 accommodation places registered in the Kościelisko commune of various sizes – these include both the proverbial guesthouse rooms, guesthouses and apartment buildings. We didn't even realize that the action would bring such a result. Currently, in the Kościelisko commune we have a total of over 14,000. accommodation places, and for comparison, in 2019, when I took office, there were 6,000 of them registered – said the mayor of Kościelisko, Roman Krupa.
As the mayor added, only one apartment building had a record number of accommodations, as many as 134. The notification was submitted by an office servicing premises for rent, which advertises itself on popular Internet portals, but has not previously submitted an appropriate notification to the commune office.
Now there will be inspections and penalties
– Due to the so-called gray zone, we lost not only tax revenues, but also local tax revenues. Now it will bring tangible results for all residents, Krupa said.
The action aimed at illegally renting accommodation was announced by the Kościelisko Commune Office at the end of August this year. The mayor assessed that there was a very great response, because entrepreneurs called, asked about the matter and finalized the registration of their accommodation facilities.
– This is not the end, because we will now start with inspections, because there are still facilities that advertise but have not registered their business activity. We have such a list of unregistered objects. We have a system that detects such objects, Krupa added.
As announced by the mayor, inspections of facilities that did not take advantage of the opportunity to report their activities without penalty by the end of October will start in November. He added that each case of illegal activity would be assessed individually, but he warned that officials' understanding would be less.
The commune loses taxes and local fees
Due to unregistered business activity, the commune loses revenues from tax and unpaid local fee, which in the Kościelisko commune is PLN 2.50, and from the new year it will be PLN 3. The commune's budget also loses due to unregulated waste collection fees, which everyone should also pay running a business. There are currently 1,020 registered accommodation facilities in the Kościelisko commune, with over 14,000 beds. accommodation places.
– Entrepreneurs who honestly pay all taxes are irritated by the fact that others do not pay taxes and lower accommodation prices. I want residents to feel that the money they pay as part of the local tax and fee is used, for example, to create tourist infrastructure or clear snow from the streets – noted the mayor of Kościelisko.
The action of the Kościelisko commune authorities is a pioneering initiative among Podhale local governments. Neighboring Zakopane is also struggling with the gray zone of room rental. To combat it, the city authorities near Giewont want to introduce a tourist card to be given to guests renting in legally operating facilities.
Main photo source: danielholmhansen/Shutterstock